Dalit Christian Teacher Buried After Three-Day Delay Amid Cemetery Rights Dispute

Trichy, July 22, 2026: An 89-year-old retired Dalit Christian teacher was buried in a common cemetery near Thuraiyur early Monday, ending a three-day standoff over burial rights that required intervention by senior district officials.

A. Raju, a retired government schoolteacher from Kottapalayam village, died of age-related ailments on July 17. His family sought to bury him in the common cemetery attached to St Mary Magdalene Church, but members of other Christian communities objected, insisting that Dalit Christians should use a separate cemetery associated with St Sebastian's Church.

The dispute is rooted in a long-standing disagreement over access to the common cemetery. In 2014, Raju and four others approached the Thuraiyur civil court seeking equal burial rights for Scheduled Caste Christians. In 2024, the court ruled that the cemetery attached to St Mary Magdalene Church was open to all Christians, regardless of caste.

Despite the court ruling, opposition to Raju's burial in the common cemetery delayed the funeral. His family was forced to keep his body at home for three days as tensions mounted in the village. Police were deployed to prevent any escalation and maintain law and order.

Sub-Collector Sushree Suvangi Khuntia, Additional Superintendent of Police R. Dhanarasu and DSP N. Muthumar led efforts to resolve the dispute. Representatives of the two groups held nearly nine hours of negotiations at the Musiri Sub-Collector's office before reaching an agreement late Sunday.

Following the settlement, Raju's body was taken to the common cemetery and buried at around 1 a.m. on Monday, bringing the three-day dispute to an end.

News Credits: The Times of India